Gladiators of Ancient Rome

When we think of ancient Rome and the Roman Empire, there are several images that come to mind – massive armies, marble temples and palaces, risqué parties, and emperors behaving badly. Whether these are accurate or not is somewhat beside the point. Depending of the books they’ve read, or the movies they’ve watched, different people will think of different things when it comes to the Roman world.

One thing that many people will think of when you utter the words ‘Ancient Rome’ is the amphitheatre (usually the Colosseum) and gladiators.

Gladiators – and charioteers, of course, – were the star athletes of their day, even though they were slaves on the social scale.

What had begun long ago as a funeral rite, over time, became one of the greatest and bloodiest entertainments in the Roman world.

In ancient Rome, gladiatorial combat was a popular form of entertainment. It was an integral part of Roman culture and provided a spectacle for the masses. Gladiators were trained fighters who engaged in mortal combat with each other, wild animals, or prisoners of war. The gladiatorial games were held in amphitheatres, and thousands of people would gather to watch the fights.

Ave Caesar, Morituri Te Salutant (1859) by Jean-Léon Gérôme

Despite the popularity of the subject today, and movies involving gladiators such as Gladiator or Pompeii, most newcomers to Roman history may not know that there were many different types of gladiators with distinctive weapons and styles of fighting. The Roman world was, after all, quite diverse, and the same went for the sands of the arena.

In this short blog post, we will explore the different types of gladiators and the weapons that they used.

Retiarius

Roman mosaic showing a Retiarius in combat

The Retiarius was a lightly armoured gladiator who fought with a trident and a net. He also wore an arm and shoulder guard on one side, and sometimes greaves. The net was used to ensnare his opponent, and the trident was used to stab him. The Retiarius was often pitted against the Secutor, who was heavily armoured and carried a sword and a shield.

Secutor

Artist Impression of a Secutor gladiator

The Secutor was a heavily armoured gladiator who fought with a sword and a large shield. He wore a helmet with a rounded top and small eye holes that gave him the look of a sea monster to be fought by the Retiarius, the fisherman, for whom he was the perfect match. The Secutor’s sword was short and straight, allowing him to make quick strikes and parry attacks. The Emperor Commodus, who used to fancy himself a gladiator, often fought as a Secutor.

Murmillo

A re-enactor dressed as a murmillo gladiator

The Murmillo was a heavily armoured gladiator who fought with a gladius and scutum. He wore a large helmet, an arm guard or manica, greaves with thick padding beneath, and a thick leather belt, or balteus. The Murmillo was often pitted against the Thraex, who wore a helmet with a griffin on it and carried a curved sword.

Thraex

Artist impression of a Thraex gladiator

The Thraex, or ‘Thracian’ fighter, was a lightly armoured gladiator who fought with a curved sword, called a sica, and a small, square shield. He wore a helmet and thick greaves. The Thraex was designed to be the perfect match for the Murmillo, and so these two gladiators were often paired off for the entertainment of the crowd.

Hoplomachus

Re-enactor dressed as a hoplomachus

The Hoplomachus was a heavily armoured gladiator who fought with a spear, a dagger, and a small round shield, reminiscent of the round shield of the ancient Greek Hoplite warriors of the past. He wore a helmet with a crest on top and a visor, a manica on one arm, and thick greaves. The Hoplomachus was often pitted against the Murmillo.

Dimachaerus

Dimachaerus – as portrayed by the character of Gannicus in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand

The Dimachaerus was a lightly armoured gladiator who fought with two swords. He wore a helmet, arm guards, and a thick belt. The Dimachaerus was often pitted against other dimachaeri gladiators, or the hoplomachus. Because this gladiator had no shield and only fought with two gladii or curved blades, it would have required a lot of skill to survive.

Provocator

Artist impression of a Provocator

The Provocator was a heavily armoured gladiator who fought with a gladius and a scutum. He wore a large helmet with a crest on top and a visor, a greave on his forward leg, and sometimes a breastplate. This gladiator was meant emulate the Roman legionary in the arena. The Provocator was often pitted against other heavily armoured gladiators, such as the Murmillo or the Secutor.

Equites

Artist impression of two Equites gladiators

The Equites were gladiators who fought on horseback and would no doubt have added a lot of drama to the scene in the arena. They carried a lance, cavalry sword, and a round or oval shield. The Equites gladiators would also have worn a helmet, and sometimes a breastplate. The Equites were often pitted against each other or against other gladiators. The horsemanship skills would have had to be excellent to enable them to charge, wheel, and fight from horseback!

Bestiarii

Mosaic depicting a Bestiarius fighting a leopard or tiger in the arena.

While not strictly gladiators, the Bestiarii played a unique role in the arena. They were fighters who specialized in combat against wild animals. The Bestiarii used a variety of weapons, such as spears, swords, or even lassos, to subdue and kill their ferocious opponents. These gladiators had to possess exceptional agility and bravery to face the dangerous creatures. The Bestiarii fought wild animals in the arena, while Venatores were hunters of animals on occasions of wild beast hunts in the arena for the entertainment of the populace. If a person was considered damnatio ad bestias, that person was not a gladiator, but rather someone who was condemned to death at the mercy of the beasts, such as prisoners or persecuted peoples thrown to the lions. The use of animals in the arenas of the Empire caused the extinction of many of Europe and North Africa’s animal species.

Andabatae

Re-enactor dressed as an Andabatae gladiator

The Andabatae were gladiators who fought blindfolded. They wore helmets with no eye holes, making it impossible for them to see their opponents or their surroundings. Armed with various weapons like swords, axes, or clubs, the Andabatae relied solely on their instincts and hearing to engage in combat. This added an extra layer of danger and excitement to the fights, both for the gladiators themselves and for the spectators.

Laquerarii

Artist impression of a Laquerarius

The Laquerarii were gladiators who specialized in fighting with whips. They were usually pitted against other Laquerarii or against animals, such as lions or bears. These gladiators demonstrated exceptional skill in handling the whip, using it to control and subdue their opponents or animals. Their agility and precision were crucial in navigating the dangerous encounters.

Essedarius

Artist impression of two Essedarii

The Essedarius was a type of gladiator who fought from a war chariot that was meant to emulate the vehicles of the Celtic tribes of Europe whom Rome fought in Gaul, Britannia, and elsewhere. It is unclear from the sources whether the Essedarius rode the chariot into the arena and then dismounted to fight, or if they fought from the chariot cab while a driver whisked them around their opponents. The latter explanation seems more likely as it would have been much more dramatic for the audience. Who could forget the scene in Gladiator when the chariots burst into the arena!

These are but the main types of gladiators that one would have found on the sands of the arenas about the Roman Empire. Often, gladiators might have customized their equipment or changed things up a bit to align with their fighting personas.

There were other gladiators such as archers (Sagittarius), boxers (Cestus), and others, all of them risking death in the arena for the entertainment of the crowd.

Amazon warriors as depicted in the film Wonder Woman

In addition to male gladiators, ancient Rome also saw the presence of female gladiators, known as Gladiatrices or Ludia. While not as common as their male counterparts, these female warriors brought a unique and captivating element to the gladiatorial games.

While very little is known about female gladiators and their training, we do know that they existed and that they had stage names and personae similar to their much more common male counterparts.

Amazon

Mosaic depicting Amazon type gladiatrices

As a legendary race of female warriors, it is hardly surprising that the Amazons were a popular persona for female gladiators who drew inspiration from the mythical tribe of warrior women. They fought in a manner similar to male gladiators, wielding weapons such as swords, shields, and spears. These formidable fighters showcased their skills, strength, and agility in combat, challenging the notion that gladiatorial combat was solely a male domain.

Dimachaera

Dimachaeria as depicted in the series Spartacus: War of the Damned

The Dimachaera were female gladiators who fought with two swords, similar to their male counterparts. These skilled fighters displayed dexterity and precision as they engaged in dual-bladed combat. Their agility and quick reflexes made them formidable opponents in the arena.

Secutoria

The helmet of a secutor. note the small eye holes and covered ears.

Inspired by the male Secutor gladiators, the Secutoria were female gladiators who were heavily armoured and fought with swords and shields. They wore helmets similar to the Secutors, with rounded tops and narrow eye slits. The Secutoria often faced off against other female gladiators or, very rarely, male opponents, showcasing their courage and combat prowess.

Retiaria

Artist impression of a Retiaria

The Retiaria were female gladiators who adopted the fighting style of the male Retiarius. These gladiatrices engaged in combat using a trident and a net. Similar to their male counterparts, they wore light armour and were known for their agility and finesse in capturing and subduing opponents with their nets.

Essedaria

Essedaria from the film Gladiator

The Essedaria were a unique group of female gladiators who fought from chariots, demonstrating their skill in handling horses and engaging in fast-paced combat. They carried weapons like swords, spears, or bows, and unleashed their attacks while maneuvering the chariots. The Essedaria added a thrilling and visually striking element to the gladiatorial games.

Marble relief depicting two female gladiatrices named ‘Amazon’ and ‘Achillia’

Similar to their male counterparts, there would have been variations for female gladiators  who adopted different fighting styles and weaponry. Some gladiatrices fought with weapons such as swords, shields, or spears, while others engaged in more unconventional combat using whips, lassos, or daggers. The range of fighting styles and weapons used by female gladiators added diversity and excitement to the arena that the crowd would have found spectacular and even titillating.

It’s important to note that while female gladiators did exist, they were not as numerous as their male counterparts, and their participation in the gladiatorial games varied throughout different periods of Roman history. The presence of female gladiators challenged traditional gender roles and norms, providing a platform for women to showcase their skills, strength, and bravery in combat.

Just because they existed doesn’t mean, however, that female gladiators were not a controversial topic. In A.D. 11, the Senate passed a law forbidding freeborn women under the age of twenty from participating in gladiatorial combat. And almost two hundred years later, Emperor Septimius Severus outlawed participation of women in the arenas of the Empire, claiming that such spectacles encouraged a lack of respect for women in general.

Despite Severus’ decree, it seems that women continued to fight as gladiators into the third century, after Severus’ death, at places such as Ostia.

Female gladiators made their mark in ancient Rome, defying societal expectations and participating in the intense world of gladiatorial combat. Their presence added an extra layer of intrigue and excitement to the gladiatorial games, highlighting the diversity and courage of these formidable women.

Mosaic depicting various types of gladiators

It’s important to note that while all the types of gladiators and gladiatrices and their weapons mentioned above were prominent in the Roman world, the gladiatorial games evolved over time, and variations existed within each category. Gladiator schools, known as ludi, played a significant role in training and honing the skills of these fighters. It was also big business!

The world of gladiators in ancient Rome was rich, diverse, and bloody.

It may not be Rome’s greatest contribution to society, but it has certainly left an impression that resonates today, as if the crowds of the Colosseum are still baying for blood.

Thank you for reading…

If you are visiting Rome, the Colosseum is a must-see for anyone interested in ancient Rome.

To get the most out of your visit, check out the skip-the-line tickets or special guided tours of the hidden places within the Colosseum that are available. CLICK HERE for more details!

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The Colosseum: First Impressions and Edgar Allan Poe

We all have our memories of first impressions – of people, of feelings, of almost every activity we undertake or situation we encounter.

For me, the first impression of an historical site is always something that is seared onto the memory of my heart and mind. Some sites leave more of an impression while the memories of others linger for a short time before melting away to form part of my broader perception of a period or place.

Back in 2000, one such site that left a titanic, long-lasting impression upon me was the Colosseum in Rome.

I remember it vividly, walking along the thick paving stones of the via Sacra from the Forum Romanum, past the arch of Titus. I was busy talking with my wife when I looked up to find that most famous of Rome’s monuments staring down at me.

It literally stopped me in my tracks.

Prior to that, I had read much about Rome and the Colosseum, but nothing can really prepare you for the moment you come face-to-face with such a creation.

It reached to the sky, arch upon arch, dominating the entire area. The moment I looked upon it, I could hear the cheering and jeering of the crowds, the clang of gladii, and the roar of wild beasts.

This monument of stone and bloody memory came to life, no…exploded into life!…before my very eyes.

It was at that moment that many parts in my books Children of Apollo and Killing the Hydra began to take shape. In fact, my first visit to Rome to see the Colosseum, and indeed the vast ruins of the Forum Romanum and the Palatine Hill, helped me to truly understand the might and majesty of the Roman Empire.

I explored that ruin as much as I could from the outside to the interior corridors and sloping walls of the inside where upwards of 50,000 ancients once sat. I was ignorant of the masses of tourists, the myriad foreign languages being spoken, or the hucksters in cheap ‘Roman’ armour who charged unsuspecting tourists for a photo op while groping them.

It was the Colosseum that had us spell-bound.

It was a true wonder to me, and that first impression set me off on a journey into the past that has led me on many an adventure, both creative, cerebral and physical.

In a way, that first meeting made the world of ancient Rome my home.

Model of Ancient Rome

A couple of months ago, I was reminded of my first impression of the Colosseum when reading another work inspired by this magnificent relic of history.

I was reading from the works of that father of American Gothic poetry and literature, Edgar Allan Poe, and came across his poem The Coliseum published on October 26, 1833, in the Baltimore Saturday Visiter.

I hadn’t read the poem before. In truth, I didn’t even know about it.

Of course, I read it and, well, it made me realize that the Colosseum has likely left an impression on everyone across time who has come across it since the inaugural games of A.D. 80.

I’m not going to analyze the poem here, but rather leave you to read it for yourself and experience a first impression through the eyes of Edgar Allan Poe.

Edgar Allan Poe

I hope you enjoy…

The Coliseum

By Edgar Allan Poe

Type of the antique Rome! Rich reliquary
Of lofty contemplation left to Time
By buried centuries of pomp and power!
At length- at length- after so many days
Of weary pilgrimage and burning thirst,
(Thirst for the springs of lore that in thee lie,)
I kneel, an altered and an humble man,
Amid thy shadows, and so drink within
My very soul thy grandeur, gloom, and glory!

Vastness! and Age! and Memories of Eld!
Silence! and Desolation! and dim Night!
I feel ye now- I feel ye in your strength-
O spells more sure than e’er Judaean king
Taught in the gardens of Gethsemane!
O charms more potent than the rapt Chaldee
Ever drew down from out the quiet stars!

Here, where a hero fell, a column falls!
Here, where the mimic eagle glared in gold,
A midnight vigil holds the swarthy bat!
Here, where the dames of Rome their gilded hair
Waved to the wind, now wave the reed and thistle!
Here, where on golden throne the monarch lolled,
Glides, spectre-like, unto his marble home,
Lit by the wan light of the horned moon,
The swift and silent lizard of the stones!

But stay! these walls- these ivy-clad arcades-
These moldering plinths- these sad and blackened shafts-
These vague entablatures- this crumbling frieze-
These shattered cornices- this wreck- this ruin-
These stones- alas! these grey stones- are they all-
All of the famed, and the colossal left
By the corrosive Hours to Fate and me?

“Not all”- the Echoes answer me- “not all!
Prophetic sounds and loud, arise forever
From us, and from all Ruin, unto the wise,
As melody from Memnon to the Sun.
We rule the hearts of mightiest men- we rule
With a despotic sway all giant minds.
We are not impotent- we pallid stones.
Not all our power is gone- not all our fame-
Not all the magic of our high renown-
Not all the wonder that encircles us-
Not all the mysteries that in us lie-
Not all the memories that hang upon
And cling around about us as a garment,
Clothing us in a robe of more than glory.”

The Coloseum c.1870 (Wikimedia Commons)

Isn’t that wonderful?

If you have had the chance to visit the Colosseum yourself, please do tell us what your own first impressions of it were in the comments below.

Thank you for reading.

 

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